The European Parliament, in the Plenary from the 12th of March took a note of the Kiruna Declaration of the Arctic Council from May 2013 and its decision on the permanent observer status for the EU as well as other state entities.
The EP declared to urge the Commission to follow up on the outstanding seal products ban issue with Canada and to duly inform the European Parliament regarding the process.
The EP expressed its regrets of the effects which the EU regulation relating to the ban on seal products has produced for sections of the population, and in particular for indigenous peoples, their culture and livelihood.
Read the Joint Motion for a Resolution on the EU strategy for the Arctic (2013/2595(RSP)